Our Cases
The Project on Fair Representation is committed to litigation that challenges racial and ethnic classifications and preferences in state and federal courts. Below are some of our recent cases.
The Project on Fair Representation is a public-interest organization committed to the principle that racial and ethnic classifications are unconstitutional, unfair, and harmful. It works to advance race-neutral rules in education, government action, and voting. The Project pursues these goals through education and advocacy and has been involved in several cases before the Court involving these important issues. The Project has a direct interest in this case because it opposes racial gerrymandering of all kinds. Eliminating racial sorting in redistricting…
May 2, 2022
Today, the Project on Fair Representation announces it will provide counsel to Great Northern Resources, Inc. in a challenge to the constitutionality of the State of Oregon's use of strict race-based criteria for grants to businesses and individuals that have been adversely affected by Covid-19. The case is styled Great Northern Resources, Inc. v Coba 3:20-cv-01866-IM. Earlier this year, the Oregon Legislature established a $62 million relief fund from the "Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief and Resiliency Fund" which is only available to individuals and…
October 30, 2020
CVRA violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution (Washington, DC) Today, the Project on Fair Representation announces the filing of a new lawsuit in California federal court challenging the constitutionality of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The CVRA was passed by the California Legislature in 2001 in an attempt to overrule and circumvent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that limit the use of race and ethnicity in the creation of election districts. The CVRA has recently been utilized by…
June 7, 2018
Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of the California Voting Rights Act Filed in Federal Court CVRA violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution (Washington, DC) Today, the Project on Fair Representation announces the filing of a new lawsuit in California federal court challenging the constitutionality of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The CVRA was passed by the California Legislature in 2001 in an attempt to overrule and circumvent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that limit the use of race and ethnicity…
October 4, 2017
Under Texas law, the Board of Directors of the State Bar must include “four minority member directors appointed by the President of the State Bar.” §81.020(b). The law states that only “female, African-American, Hispanic-American, Native American, or Asian-Americans” will be considered for these four positions. The complaint notes that this law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because there is no justification for imposing a racial, ethnic, or gender quota for board appointments to the Texas State…
December 20, 2016
The Project has a long history of opposing interpretations of the Voting Rights Act that cannot be reconciled with the Constitution or the law’s text. The decision here runs contrary to the principles of race neutrality to which The Project is dedicated and to the American ideal of individual equality to which The Project is profoundly committed. For these reasons, The Project respectfully submits this brief in support of Appellants and urges the Court to reverse the judgment below. POFR…
April 26, 2016
In a case that went all the way to the US Supreme Court, Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number 1 challenged the constitutionality of pre-clearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act. In a unanimous decision, the Court concluded that the district could apply for an exemption. Read the US Supreme Court opinion
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